Win for Wisconsin: Online Sports Betting Bill Passes Assembly

After a year of discussions and delays, AB 601 has finally passed the Wisconsin Assembly. This bill will allow the state’s 11 tribes to provide online sportsbook services by setting up their own servers. It will now have to pass the Senate, where support is not certain. Read on to learn about the bill, its opposition, and its potential future.

Road to the Assembly

Online sports betting has been a topic among Wisconsin lawmakers since November 2025. One of the earlier versions of the bill was Senate Bill 592, co-authored by Representative Kalan Haywood and Senator Howard Marklein. Lawmakers supporting the legalization of online betting believe it will help curb illegal operators in the state and generate tax revenue.

“If we do this, it will legalize what a lot of people do right now illegally. We’ll make this legal and collect taxes on this, which we certainly need.”

Senator Howard Marklein

The Assembly version of the bill, AB 601, was initially delayed until the full legislative session in January 2026. No specific reason was given for the delay in voting, but the bill had gained significant momentum. That’s why one of its supporters, Representative Tyler August, believed it would be approved if it came to a vote.

Assembly Bill 601

As Representative August predicted, the bill was approved through a unanimous voice vote on the 19th of February. This approval means it will now go to the Senate, and if it’s approved there, there’s a good chance the governor will sign it into law, as he’s supportive of the bill. Some of the bill’s provisions include:

• Altering the definition of a bet to include wagering on mobile and electronic devices
• State tribes must have hub-and-spoke servers on their grounds
• Tribes can partner with sportsbook operators

Tribal compacts will need to be renegotiated and approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs if the bill becomes law. Since the Assembly has completed its work for the year and did so before the deadline, the Senate can’t change the contents of the current bill. It has scheduled general meeting days throughout March.

Opposition to the Bill

While the bill has decent support from sports teams and operators, it also has many detractors. Some Republican lawmakers want to end tribal exclusivity and introduce commercial operators. However, this would require amending the state’s constitution and holding a public vote. Some lawmakers are also concerned about microbetting and problem gambling, eliciting a response from Speaker Robin Vos.

“I have concerns about problem gambling as well, but I don’t think having it only on the internet or only in a bar or restaurant after hours makes any sense, so we have to just talk through that.”

Speaker Robin Vos

The Sports Betting Alliance is also opposed to tribal exclusivity. Currently, the framework is set up under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and operators must send 60% of their revenue to their partner tribes. Members of the SBA believe this will make working in Wisconsin unprofitable and demand that lawmakers re-evaluate the proposal.

South Carolina’s Online Sports Betting is In a Similar Spot

While Wisconsin is moving closer to legalizing online sports betting, South Carolina is cut facing issues with a similar bill. SB 444 would award up to eight licenses to companies operating in at least five other jurisdictions. Sports betting would have a legal age of 18, and the industry would be taxed at 12.5%. However, Governor Henry McMaster opposes gambling, so the chance of success seems slim.

“Gambling is bad for our culture. It’s not a part of our heritage and there are better ways to make money to get jobs and generate tax.”

Governor Henry McMaster

Representatives of religious organizations also state that it would be easier to eliminate the illegal industry than to legalize online sports betting. Meanwhile, some lawmakers are concerned about prediction markets and their influence in the state. The Senate Labor and Commerce Subcommittee has not yet voted on the bill.

Conclusion

Lawmakers in Wisconsin are not very optimistic about the bill’s chances in the Senate, but it has passed the Assembly. If it passes the Senate, there’s a good chance it will become law. We will keep you updated on future developments.